I am absolutely disgusted at a lot of the toxic star wars fans. If there are no magical space wizards with laser swords it’s trash. This is one of the best shows I’ve seen in a very long time.

The hammer guy had one job, did it well and got to Spartan kick a stormtrooper off. What a beast.

Brasso smashing an Imperial Army guy with the Marva-brick was a thing of beauty.

For me the best scene of the episode was Cassian and Brasso meeting in the tunnel. Andor is filled with regret for not being there for Maarva. He's upset that the last conversation he had with his mother was an argument. It was so real. So human. It hit me so hard, starting with that long, comforting hug. Both of these men are grieving and it's wonderful that the show allows them to do that.

Luthen's face during Marva's speech made me think he was rethinking some things - specifically that if THIS rebel spirit is was raised Cassian, then maybe he's got it in him too.

This is 100% the best Star Wars story in the Disney Era. This show was perfect, something I and I'm sure many fans have wanted for so long.

I thought she was gone, but in death Marva became more powerful than we could possibly imagine.😢

Andor has been the best execution of pushing the core themes of Star Wars

I'm officially addicted to the Andor series. Real people you can identify with taking big risks to fight tyranny. I can't identify with people who fight with laser swords and have tekekinetic abilities and can jump 50 feet. But I can identify with some scrappers and welders who eek out a living and do what they can with what they have. This isn't just the best Star Wars. It's the best TV series I've seen in a long time.

10:52 The people of Ferrix took "If they hurt B2, we riot" literally, and I love them for it.

*Brasso spartan kicks that guy after shoving B2* Me: wow that must be the coolest kick in all of Star Wars. Anvil guy 2 minutes later: hold my beer.

A beautiful finale, a thrilling season! What a masterpiece!

It didn't even occur to me that Mon was making the whole "you're gambling again" argument with her husband to pass false leads to ISB.

This show is a masterpiece!!! The tension was real as the somber funeral went on. When chaos errupted with the riots I felt like I was there lol That shot of Luthen looking over city....hearing screams, smoke, and blaster fire. That was haunting. Surprisely liked how they kinda humanised the Empire a bit. Them going toe to toe with the people of Ferrix was brutal. Litterally had a heart attack when I thought they were going to tear Dedra apart.

Let's see about Dedra.....She failed to find out the identity of Axis, she failed to capture Cassian, she had to be rescued by someone who is considered to be an incompetent failure. This will not sit well with her ISB superiors. Makes you wonder what will be her fate.

There is no longer any doubt that Andor has become the best that Star Wars has _ever_ been, and this episode is a prime reason as to why.

Imperial prefect: Kicks Bee Literally everyone: You weren't supposed to do that.

Why is no one else talking about Dedra getting hit in the head with a rock? It was my favorite moment. You can tell that she's never been in a fight before. As soon as the fight starts, it looks like she's about to wet herself. She always viewed other people like chess pieces or statistics and when she finally gets out of the office, some no-name randoms beat her ass in the street.

I love how the empire was genuinely terrified of a marching band. And marvas funerary stone being used as a litteral weapon against tyranny is *chefs kiss*

Luthan to me has felt like the rebels counterpart of the Emperor. He lives a double life as a charismatic upper class elite, then you see his true form, sitting in the shadows in a black hood, playing a game of chess as the king, willing to make any sacrifice for his cause. It feels like the only thing that separates the two is in fact their causes

I think this was my takeaway from the post-credit scene: Andor and that crew was slaving away at that one little part replicated countless numbers of times on a gigantic machine. How many other countless numbers of parts are there too? How many other prison colonies and prisoners are out there doing that exact same thing? The scale of it all is crazy to think about.

I fully believe that we saw Mon Mothma setting her husband up to take the fall for the missing credits, getting their daughter involved in his dealings with a crime boss, and basically setting herself up as an innocent bystander and victim. If we see Mon actually go that route, it will raise my estimations of her greatly.

Despite all the great characters, casting, on-location filming, amazing sets, it was the incredible writing that left me utterly amazed. It was so clever, so intricate, so well thought out - every scene had meaning, nothing was wasted.

I thought it was notiable how they kinda of lingered on Nemik's journal when he says "try". This is of course the opposite of what Yoda guides young Luke to do. Perhaps a message that it is important for normal people to indeed try, for without an all powerful force at our backs, that is all we can do.

Aunt Petunia's redemption arc was incredible.

The way the Empire disregards local customs on Aldhani and Ferrix kinda casts Thrawn's logic in a whole new light for me....

Marva would have loved to know her stone was used to beat an Imperial, especially the one who kicked B2

I was absolutely cheering when Cassian asked Luthen to let him join the rebellion.

This is not just one of the best first seasons of Star Wars, but all of television.

As a Combat Veteran I have to admit I got choked up listening to Maarva’s final speech/ battle cry. Yea it’s fiction but you can tell the writers knew how to write her as a fighter and Fiona Shaw knocked it out the park. She had me amped ready to fight too. 😂

I think this episode changed Luthen. The Empire did exactly what he wanted them to do, except he witnessed it. He actually looked afraid on his way back to his ship. I also think Marva's speech got to him. During this season it was all about keeping secrets and staying separated, so that he couldn't lose too much. I think he's starting to realize that, to beat the Empire, it's time for the rebellion to come together. I'd be willing to bet anything he has a meeting with Mon Mothma to tell her so. I'm also glad I was right about what they were building in the prison.

Star Wars Explained: Consistently delivers a thought-provoking, masterful analysis of plot, characters, and themes ScreenCrush: "mAyBe LuThEn iS sEcReTLy A jEdI"

This show was just absolutely brilliant. Mon suspecting her driver was a spy, and thus getting in a staged argument where she purposely exposes her husbands gambling issue as a cover up to her money problem was genius. Now this way she can merry her daughter off to a wealthy gangsters son and not make it seem suspicious. For all they know they lost the money to gambling, and need to get that money back somehow. Also the tiny details like Mon undoing her top piece representing a state of vulnerability, is something that she wants her driver to believe is real and authentic. She wants him to think he caught her in a moment of weakness, when in reality he’s playing right into her hand. Things like this are scattered across the show in every episode. It’s just brilliant writing.

Leida’s happiness involves sadly displeasing her mother by whatever means possible even to the point of embracing the traditions that she despises as well as marrying a gangster’s son that may become an abusive relationship down the road. All that was missing was Mothma looking at Leida with the type of look that whispers, “You fool.”

Perfect and I mean perfect. This gives me soo much hope for the future of Star Wars. This with Mando and Ahsoka coming out. What a time to be alive!

The thing I loved about the slow burn tension and drama of the various characters taking their positions around the town...was that each one of them had a fully fleshed out backstory and clear motivation for why they were there. You could just see a silent shot of them for a few frames and fully understand what they were thinking, doing and what they hoped to get out of the situation. A beautifully written, shot and directed show.

Give this team a blank check and some stories to write. Disney, MORE. MOOOOOORE!!!

I was hoping for a Wilhelm scream when the stormtrooper was kicked out of the tower.

Hats off to Gilroy! Andor season 1 was some of the best star wars, hands down. Alex, you had a message in this review that should NEVER go unheard and for that I must say.. Amen, well said brother!

Perrin’s gambling issues are the “right amount of wrong” to quote a commercial from the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas. I love the tension on Ferrix of the locals staging the funeral early. Also the bricks in the wall were surprisingly touching, the dead aren’t in a graveyard somewhere, they are still a part of the community. Meero rattled in the uprising and Syril calm was a fun reversal of their dynamic.

Love it! A few mirrors I noticed: Dedra wearing red to blend in mirrors kleya wearing red in episode 7, Both hiding in enemy territory. Also the death star mirrors visual of tittle animation. And finally Bix is a deliberate parallel to the imperial pilot in rouge one. Both traumatized by interrogation

Ferrix in this episode really reminded me of spy movies set in cold war Berlin, with Agents from each side following their business. Superb writing!

I'm sad because I don't think we're going to get anything like this again once it's over. I personally think this is star wars at its best.

It’s been a pleasure listening to your weekly breakdowns, Alex! One thing about the manifesto: I think Cassian’s been listening to it before the finale as well. I like to believe that his line “Power doesn’t panic” came from said manifesto, and only now is he fully digesting Nemik’s words.

Maarva’s funeral speech was incredible, the way it moved everyone who heard it, even Luthen, was fantastic, gonna be a hard two years to wait for season 2

The more I think about it, the more I appreciate this show, I had no expectations for this show and now I enjoy it quite a lot. Looking forward for season 2

This up there with The Clone Wars season 5 & 7 finales. The funeral scene with all the horns and close up shots of people who have been hurt by the empire, unifying together was very powerful for me.

If all TV shows were as well-crafted as Andor is, no one would ever leave their homes. The economy would grind to a halt. Definitely the best episode (so far) of one of the top 5 shows to ever grace the small screen. Definitely your best Andor episode yet, too. Thanks for the journey. Looking forward to Season 2.

I am going to be the one to say because I think it needs to be said... Andor Season 1 is not only the best single season of Star Wars television ever but it's also the truest to the original idea of what Star Wars was created out of from George Lucas with that original trilogy. I can guarantee that George loves this show from the writing, to the dialogue, the characters it has and the idea around how this show embraces the idea around putting real life into a science fiction and fantasy setting for a great narrative. This show to me might not literally be perfect but it's the closest thing to a perfect season of television we've ever had with Star Wars and for this year in television for 2022. That finale was SO GOOD!! My only critique with it is that we didn't get more Death Trooper action...😅 Season 2 can't come soon enough!!🙏

The season finale left me infuriated (cause I wanna know what happens next) and excited (Cause I wanna know what happens next, damnit!). It was very tense. Every bit of high had a low, and vice versa. A roller coaster ride, but in such an intimate, human way. Even though we all expected it at some point, the scene at the end with Cassian and Luthen still put a smile on my face like "This is where the fun begins".

The end scene of the episode is one of the best in the show (the show has a lot of good scenes though). He’s lost everything he’s cared about, and with one line you know exactly where his mind is: he’s at the point where he has nothing to lose. The dynamic nature of his character was so believable in this show.

I also feel like Nemik's "Try" is an antithesis to Yoda's "Do, or do not. There is no try". Its kind of like the writers are saying this is not that kind of Star Wars story. Referencing that this is not a black and white, good vs bad kind of story, but the lines are blurred, which this series explores a lot. It feels like a nod of the writers, also saying they don't need the flashy Jedi and sith to create a good story. Once again the entire Andor team outdid themselves. I was kind of worried that the finale would not live up to my expectations, but damn, it did. Also, nice breakdown. Im kind of new to the channel, but your Andor breakdowns drew me in completely. Fantastic work.

One thing I cannot help thinking, watching Mon Mothma, is that she has also calculated what this will mean for her daughter: a match with this young man from Chandrilia will remove her daughter from the dangers of Coruscant, and being a part of a "criminal's" family may afford her protections that might not otherwise be available when Mothma resigns from the Senate and goes on the "Most Wanted" list.

Thank you for your analysis & correlation with what’s tragically happening right now. Your wording was powerful & necessary. This show is so timely against this struggle we are now facing against the fear mongering, hate, persecution of marginalized groups & fascism. Every aspect of this show shrieks & shouts authenticity & a rawness that has been missing from Star Wars for too long. From Andor’s trauma of his group failing to act/losing their leader shot from the back, to desperation in every actor, the weathering on both landscapes & the faces of people living at this time, the quietude & wind/waves when Andor is processing Maarva’s death to the dialogue that contain layer upon layer. It is going to be a long wait till next season, no doubt.

One little thing I love about this finale is how they decided to give Luthen that black cloak. He really looked like a Sith! Not a rebel leader or hero. And it connects perfectly with his speech a couple episodes ago. He has gone into and become that darkness his enemy uses so he can use those same tools to defeat them. But like many have pointed out that doesn’t make him a fool simply because he realizes that and knows that he shouldn’t survive to be the leader of the rebellion once it officially organizes. He wasn’t lying when he said he needs heroes. He needs someone like Cassian and more than ANYTHING he NEEDS Mon Mothma because she knows what it takes to make those tough decisions that taint the good in your spirit in order to win against a foe like the empire but unlike him she can resist letting it overtake the good in her and can still be that beacon of light that can steer the galaxy towards a better future instead of just a new empire. That’s what typically happens with revolutionaries who very passionately and honestly start fighting for their people only to become corrupted by power when they sieze the throne of government and become the oppressors they started out fighting. Luthen realizes that and wants people like Cassian that can achieve great things to inspire people and do it for the same future he believes in and he needs leaders like Mon Mothma for their people to look up to as an unextinguishable light that can genuinely present a better future free from oppression. But the rebellion also needs Luthen to get it to that point in order for Mon Mothma to take over. It needs someone whose basically borderline a villain who can do literally whatever it takes to give the real heroes history will remember the stepping stone they need to finish the race. He doesn’t think he’ll live to see that day nor wants to. He knows he deserves to die for the things he’s done to defeat the empire. But the thing that scares him the most isn’t that he’ll be killed one day as some sort of Karma for his actions. But that it will be pointless or even worse that it will spark a rebellion but for all the wrong reasons! That’s why one of the most touching and little details I absolutely LOVE from this finale was seeing Luthen in his villain attire listening to Marva’s speech and having that little genuine smirk (almost as if he’s forgotten how to really smile when not for show😢) that shows him that she gets it! The garrison attack and all of the preparation and dangers they took to inspire rebellion and Luthen looks as if he’s hearing the words of his younger self, when he first started the seeds of his network and no one was ready to listen, now being spoken from another mouth to hundreds of eager ears and minds in the masses of this tight nit beautiful community of everyday people in the middle of no where. People who the empire wouldn’t look twice at normally being stirred to action by words Luthen has wanted to scream to everyone for years😄! And now with all the doubt of if the costs of his sins really mattered he gets to actually SEE and HEAR it from his own eyes and ears the fruition of all his sacrifice. And all of those he’s had to sacrifice to get to this point. A very minuscule detail. But one I can’t help but get excited about. This show has so much substance and depth that it’s insane. We NEED more Star Wars content like this!

As a professional musician in the US Army, I LOVE the Salvation Army-style band!

I love that stormtroopers are for once menacing. How they just shot anyone down with pinpoint accuracy was just great to see. Hope Disney continues this trend. But I dont have much hope

Best SW media since ESB. Fight me.

The manifesto scene was so emotional because of the previous episodes. Tha scene to me is THE example of how great the writing for this series is.

I love the bromance between Syril and Mosk, even if it feels a bit one-sided.

This episode was terrific. The speech by Maarva was very moving. The ending was so satisfying. The End Credit scene was fascinating.

I was so scared that the ship Bix, Brasso, Bee & the others were escaping on would get shot down, I didn't breathe until it disappeared into the clouds. Love how the scenes were cut throughout the finale. Oh and a little alcohol makes viewing a little less stressful lol.

The writing in this episode was some of the best in all of television. It's incredible.

Mon using her husband to cover her tracks and putting her daughter in the middle of things… pure gold

When in the episode they mentioned a unstoppable force, I thought how in Rogue One he finally hit an impenetrable wall, about how the group,Rogue One, showed the galaxy what they already knew that’s the Empire can bleed

One of the most MOVING and I mean MOVING pieces of Star Wars content ever.

It was definitely a GRAND season finale!! I loved how he got so influenced by Nemik’s manifesto, one filled with meaning and depth rather than anger or hate, and the very last scene where Luthen realizes that Cas is exactly the kind of heart the rebellion needs. It was freaking awesome!

I never thought I would get this emotional over Petunia Dursley. Bravo Fiona Shaw. We don't see her in enough things.

The funeral and subsequent fight scene reminded me a LOT of the 2020 protests; people trying to gather peacefully but getting instigated into fighting the power causing problems. Star Wars has always been political and I can't help but think that the writers and directors were inspired by the protests.

Syril and the tactical blueberry switching hats cracked me up!

The fight and riot scene were so tense. They displayed how brutal the Empire was.

I was disappointed with The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan and I was honestly ready to give up on Star Wars, but I'm so glad I gave this show a chance. We need more unique voices like this producing Star Wars material. I can only hope we can spread the word and Andor gets the recognition it really deserves.

This series has been unbelievably good, and part of enjoying it for me was watching your recaps and thoughts the following day. I will miss them dearly. Can’t wait for season 2: Andor is top-notch Star Wars. I would have never said, at 45, that SW would move me again with something new. I stand happily corrected. Stone and Sky!

I love how the ending shot of the Death Star mirrored the Andor logo. It really emphasises how this whole show is building up to Andor’s eventual destiny in helping destroy the super weapon.

I loved it so much but I’m really sad that it’s going to be a long time before we get season 2

I thought it was interesting that Cassian said he’d find bix and friends since he’s been looking so long for his sister. Hopefully they find comfort knowing Cassian won’t give up even after years of not finding his sister.

Brilliant finale of a brilliant season. Hats off. The funeral scene is, for me, probably the most powerful sequence of the whole Star Wars canon...marching up right to the sunset that nobody gets to see in Rogue One. Bloody hell, I teared up but I'm not complaining. A loud cheer to the whole team, in front and behind the camera, and particularly the scripting! Bravo!

Lofi Niamos beats to relax/read Nemik's manifesto to. With an animated gif of Cassian shipping tea from Marva's mug while reading the manifesto with B2 keeping him company. It has to happen

The tangent you made about people hating on *other* groups just trying to be themselves was especially relevant, given recent events. That made me all the more happy to listen to Maarva’s speech after that, and hearing another voice lay it out felt nice. Nicely said, SWE

The contrast between Syril freezing up in episode 3 compared to how he acted during the riot in the finale is incredible

I loved your Chess metaphor for Luthen. Him seeing himself as the King, the "most important" piece of the game is very fitting. It did make me think when you said it, however, that even though you play the game to keep your King safe the Queen is the most powerful piece on the board - which made me think of Mon Mothma. I love the symbolism.

Your monologue about treating people as "other" (starts around the 10:00 minute mark) was just beautiful. I loved every word.

I cried so much! It was just perfect. I’m so grateful to have been alive to experience this and can’t wait for more!

Alex, this is an outstanding review. Your writing and delivery fits right along with the high bar set by the show itself. Great work.

Dude. What a great oration. Amazing. You got it. I loved the episode, but loved your retelling just as much. Keep going brother. Perfect analysis.

The music of this episode was just so well done, both background and the funeral march. It just helped keep a certain feeling all throughout the entire episode without ever being over powering.

Your description of how the people of Ferrix went through with their ceremony on their own terms really made me think of what the Empire had done to the pilgrims of Aldhani, and how diminished their own ceremonial tradition had become. I also worry about what happens to Ferrix now.

It did everything and more. I can't consider this second place with Mando. It is equal in first place I don't care what people say. This was a masterpiece

Thanks for your analysis. It cleared a couple of things up for me. I’m off to watch it again for the third time. 🥰😂

Absolutely loved it. The entire cast was phenomenal including B2-EMO. The practical effects, costumes, storytelling, and world building was incredible. I am truly moved by this series. The word “climb” has become impactful and a motto moving forward. Bravo!!!

"This episode took a year off my life...and then Maarvas speech added it right back" 🤣Thank you for that line, it summed up the entirety of that sequence for me.

Best STAR WARS series so far! Epic final episode, Maarva's last speech was actually touching. This is the real spark of the Rebellion.

Amazing finale! As for Luthian, I was wondering if his reactions to the rebellion on Ferrix was because despite needing things like this to take place, he hoped to never personally see it at ground level. IMO this makes sense from a few different angles, firstly seeing what he's now seem, it will make it tougher on him to work to get others to make the same sacrifice. His expressions were hard to read, but there was obviously a bunch of sadness in him for what was occurring, but when you're orchestrating things, you need to stay detached (this actually mirrors back to what Cleaya told him to get when he was listening to his secret radio at night the night off the raid on the garrison.)

Oh man, didn’t catch the mid-credit sequence with the Death Star on first watch, but there is a perfect mirror scene between a close-up of the droid welding the panel in place and of the kid soldering the pipe bomb at the beginning of the episode. The writers of this show are pure geniuses; what perfect visual bookends!

I'm convinced they added that scene in the last few weeks after seeing the chatter on "What are they building?!" after the prison episodes :P

Honestly, after it was all said and done. I couldn't help but feel deep concern for Kino Loy. Now that we know that the parts they were constructing, were in fact pieces of the Death Star. Then the Empire may look into the prison/factory that shut down and slowed down progress. And Kino is still unfortunately at that facility! Maybe we'll see Krennic show up? I don't know, but between that, Mothma making a huge sacrifice, Syril wanting to perform a trench run on Dedra, & all hell breaking loose on Ferrix! I'm SO EXCITED for season 2!!!!

You said something similar in another video about Andor not having yet listened to the manifesto. I believe you're incorrect. When Andor went back to retrieve his case at the hotel we saw that he had been in the middle of listening to it. He opened the cover and it was in the middle of playing. I think he's been listening to it non-stop since receiving it.

What a show; a show that I never thought would be my favourite of all the Star Wars shows, yet, it surpassed all expectations and became exactly that. Absolutely blown away by the story, characters and the music aswell - was always on the edge of my seat. Season 2 couldn't seem further away but boy am I looking forward to it. 10/10

We do know what he was building. Connectors for hexagon panels that create the outer rim of the super laser

I just watched rogue one after the finale and the depth given to cassian is insane. It literally is like a sequel to both Kenobi and Andor.